Affordable French reds from Rhone, Bordeaux and beyond

Affordable French wines are back. Our last offer sold out within hours, leaving our wine club scrambling for more little gems from the southern Rhone, Bordeaux and beyond.

French wine doesn’t have to be expensive.

“Don’t flex – it’s not cool,” my teenage daughter warns me.

I don’t go out of my way to show off (as it used to be called before Gen Z’s arrival) but please indulge me as I “flex” just a little – with the excuse of giving you a head start.

Last May, I was sitting down to a seriously good 2012 Domaine du Pegau Chateauneuf du Pape with Wallabies legend John Eales and Luke Mangan at his Glass restaurant in Sydney’s Hilton when my phone rang.

It was my wine club colleagues in something of a panic – we had just sold out of our “affordable French deal” only hours after my column was published.

“What a response from our readers,’’ I replied, shrugging off their concerns of immediate stock shortages. Since then, the wine club has been working hard to source enough good affordable French to offer a new deal. That day has finally come!

So, The Australian Wine Club on Wednesday introduces you to four very affordable French reds – and a super fresh chardonnay to uncork at your next post-lockdown “freedom” picnic.

As our winemaking man in Bordeaux, Jean-Marc Sauboua, says: “People think French wine is good but very expensive. That doesn’t have to be the case if you know where to look.”

Cuvee du Vatican Reserve de l’Abbe Cotes du Rhone 2019

You can smell the rustic French countryside in this grenache-dominant treat. Plums and cherry flavours flow across the palate, with touches of wild herbs, spice and wood smoke. Winemaker Jean-Marc Diffonty is one of the biggest names in the Rhone and this is a wonderful starting point for exploring the region’s delights. Let it breathe for at least an hour, dish up a slow-cooked lamb feast or a simple tomato ratatouille and you’ll reap the rewards – without breaking the bank. 14.5% alc RRP $20.99 a bottle SPECIAL in any mixed dozen $17.85

Le Prince de Courthezon Cotes du Rhone 2020

Created by Rhone star Thierry Ferlay and sourced from the only co-operative cellar (owned and run by local growers) in Chateauneuf du Pape. The grenache, mourvedre and syrah come from vineyards just next door to the famed grenache-growing appellation – and that’s why the Le Prince isn’t twice the price. The 2018 featured in our “sold out” offer in May and the 2020 doesn’t disappoint. Much lighter than an Aussie GSM but full of flavour. You’ll be tempted by aromas of ripe raspberries, spiced plums and black pepper leading to rich red fruit flavours built on a medium-bodied frame. Gold medal-winner at the Gilbert & Gaillard International Competition, 2021. 15% alc. RRP $23 a bottle SPECIAL in any mixed dozen $19.55

Chateau Duprat Bordeaux 2019

From a good vintage, Chateau Duprat offers an expressive medium-bodied Bordeaux at an entry-level price. Crafted from merlot grown at a small estate, close to the Garonne, in the south of the Entre Deux Mers, this shows ripe flavours of plum, redcurrant and raspberry with leafy herbal notes. Ready to drink now with roast beef tenderloin or gnocchi with mushrooms and blue cheese. 14.5% alc. RRP $22 a bottle SPECIAL in any mixed dozen $18.70 a btl

Cabalie Vieilles Vignes 2020

For those who like their reds soft, with a sweeter edge. Don’t get too serious with this ripe opulent grenache and carignan blend from France’s sunny southern region of Pays d’Oc. Winemaker Herve Sabardeil has generated a loyal following in Europe for this “drink-now” offering, conjuring up a style he likens to rich Catalan wines drunk by the centurions of the Roman empire. Won gold at the Gilbert & Gaillard International Competition, 2021. 13.5% alc. RRP $25 a bottle SPECIAL in any mixed dozen $17.99

Domaine Saint Andre Chardonnay 2020

 

If you love clean, fresh wine on a spring afternoon, this may be your post-lockdown go-to. A fruit salad of peaches, nectarines, pears and pineapple flows across the palate, with a hint of toasty brioche on the way to a refreshing, crisp finish. There’s a lovely lightness to this chardonnay, which tips in at 12.5% alc – slightly lower than typical Australian chards. From an estate near the French Mediterranean coast. A gold medal-winning bargain. RRP $23 a bottle SPECIAL Add 3 bottles to any mixed-red dozen for $15.99 a bottle

MIXED RED DOZEN 3 bottles of each red wine above $16.49 a bottle

Order online or phone [phone] Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm AEST. Deals only available while stocks last. The Australian Wine Club is a commercial partnership with Laithwaite’s Wine People.